Right angle tooth brush

ABSTRACT

A polyaxial toothbrush constructed to provide a brush portion with a plurality of axes of pivotal movement relative to a handle which can assume a straight or intermittently-angled shape position is described. The toothbrush is formed by interconnecting a brush portion and a head portions by a universal joint to define a polyaxial joint. The universal joint includes a substantially spherical end and a substantially spherical appendage extending outwardly end sized to cooperate with the spherical cavity. Such construction and arrangement provides universal movement between the brush and handle portions. The toothbrush further has at least one resilient member extending between the brush portion and handle portion of the invention, providing resistance to the pivoting brush portion with respect to the handle portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application 60/920,301, filed on Mar. 27, 2007, the contentsof which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to oral hygiene, more specifically to a polyaxialtoothbrush constructed to provide a brush portion with a plurality ofaxes of pivotal movement with regard to a handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proper oral hygiene is considered paramount to the development andmaintenance of a strong and healthy mouth. In addition to professionaldental care and regular cleanings, proper and effective teeth brushingremoves the sticky, colorless biofilm known as plaque produced mostly bybacteria. Failure to remove plaque on a regular basis results in thebuild-up and thickening of the biofilm. Removal of plaque throughbrushing prevents formation of cavities and periodontal diseases.Gingivitis is an early form of gum disease that if left untreated canresult in the more advanced disease of periodentitis. Progression ofperiodentitis ultimately results in tooth loss.

Proper brushing technique is considered one of the best daily methods tomaintain healthy teeth and gums. In addition, the correct type oftoothbrush aids the user in developing the proper oral hygiene strategy.Although no human mouth may be exactly the same, certain areas are oftenhard to reach, resulting in damage to the mouth and inadequate plaqueremoval. Thus, there is a need for an improved toothbrush that providesa cleaning portion having at least two axes of pivotal movement relativeto a handle portion to provide contact with hard to reach areas withoutcausing injury to the cheek.

The prior art is filled with modifications and improvements to thestandard toothbrush. Despite the numerous modifications, mosttoothbrushes contain the basic parts of a handle and head portion.Toothpaste is added to the head region and a brush is then articulatedin an acceptable and useful manner. One of the problems associated withthe modern toothbrush is the rigid handle. This rigidity often resultsin the stretching of the mouth when placing the brushing head alongteeth associated with the lateral side. For instance, when brushing theright side of the mouth individuals tend to extend the wall of the rightlateral cheek. The placement of the brushing head tends to causestretching of the lateral cheek wall, resulting in minor injuries to theright angle of the mouth. Minor injury of the mouth is furtherassociated with the left lateral side. In addition, right handedindividuals have difficulty brushing the outside of the molar teethassociated with the left side of the face and the inside of the molarteeth associated with the right side of the face. Left handedindividuals have the opposite problem, having difficulty brushing theoutside of the molar teeth associated with the right side of the faceand the inside of the molar teeth associated with the left side of theface. A handle that is not permanently straight and has the capabilityto bend at various angles along a plurality of axes of motion wouldalleviate the problem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Various improvements to the toothbrush have been developed over theyears relating to the head region, the cleaning elements, anddevelopment of various mechanical types. In addition, the prior art isfilled with improvements which advance the capabilities of thetoothbrush to effectively contact hard to reach places in the mouth. Tothis end, such improvements have focused on the bending of the brushhead or creating pivot capability of the head relative to the handlealong a single axis.

U.S. Patent Application 2007/0151058 discloses a toothbrush madepartially of an elastomeric material having a flexible link in the neckand between the head and neck. While this toothbrush has a slightlyflexible bend near the head region, the toothbrush is generally rigidand lacks a pivot. As a result, the head and handle are fixed in oneposition.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,491,866 and 7,251,849 describe toothbrushes having ahandle, a brush and a pivot connection between the brush and handle.Both of these inventions provide for a movable head region, however, themovement generated relative to the handle is limited.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,979,258 and 4,731,896 disclose toothbrushes having ajoint connecting two segments of the toothbrush which provides greaterpivoting motion as compared to the '866 and '849 type patents. Despitethe fact that the '258 and '896 describe movement of the head sectionrelative to a handle, such movement is limited to movement along asingle axis. Patent Re. 36,407 discloses a toothbrush having a jointconnection having a spring biased actuation member having a plurality ofsprockets which provides incremental articulated movements of the headportion with respect to the handle portion. Movement of the head portionrelative to the handle suffers from the same shortcoming as the otherprior art devices in that movement is limited along a single axis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,368 describes a toothbrush having a handle locatedat one end and a brush located on the other end. The brush head ispivotally mounted to the handle. As described therein, two types ofpivots are described. A brush head is pivotally mounted to a handle andis described to provide for a preset, limited angular positioningrelative to the brush handle. The position and movement is fixed to aposition by a tightening pin. Also described is a pivotal mounting inthe form of a ball and socket. The pivot is mounted between the handleand brush head. While this may provide a greater movement of the headportion, the handle portion remains fixed and makes it difficult toreach some sections of the mouth without extending the lateral walls ofthe cheek.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,922 describes a tooth brush having two ends joinedtogether by alternative joints. In one embodiment, the head portion isconnected by a bail or wheel joint. Although this type of joint mayprovide greater movement than previous toothbrushes, the movementassociated with this toothbrush is limited along a single axis Moreover,the degree to which the portions can bend is limited to less than 90degrees. The disclosure further provides for use of a rod joint. Thistype of joint, however, provides rotational movement but does notprovide angular bending movement.

Therefore, what is needed in the art is a toothbrush that has axialrotation and/or lateral bending in varying angles and degrees, includingbending at angles of 90 degrees or greater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a toothbrush and more particularlya polyaxial toothbrush that can assume a straight or intermittentlyangled bent shape. The toothbrush is formed by interconnecting twoportions by a universal joint. A brush portion is defined by a first endand a second end. The first end having a plurality of bristles extendingoutwardly and the second end having a first portion of the universaljoint. The toothbrush also has a handle portion having a first end and asecond end. The first end of the handle portion having a second portionof the universal joint. The ends of the universal joints are arranged tocooperate with each other to provide multiple axes of movement. Thetoothbrush further has at least one resilient member extending betweenthe brush portion and handle portion of the invention which providesresistance to the pivoting brush portion with respect to the handle.

As described herein, the term polyaxial joint is understood to include,albeit is not limited to a universal joint, a constant velocity joint,Cardan joint, a Hardy-Spicer joint, a Thompson coupling, a rag joint, agimbal joint, and an elastic coupling.

As described herein, a plurality of axes of pivotal movement includespivotal movement in one or more axes, 360 degree axial rotation, andlateral bending at varying degrees including 90 degrees or greater.

Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the instant invention toprovide a polyaxial toothbrush having a universal joint connection thatprovides movement of a brush portion relative to the handle portion.

It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide atoothbrush having a universal joint connection that defines a polyaxialjoint providing a head portion with a plurality of axes of pivotalmovement relative to the handle portion.

It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide atoothbrush having a universal joint connection that defines a polyaxialjoint providing a head portion with a plurality of axes of pivotalmovement relative to the handle portion which provides brushingcapabilities in the straight or intermittingly-angled positions.

It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide apolyaxial toothbrush having a universal joint connection that defines apolyaxial joint between the head and handle portion permitting axialrotation and/or lateral bending in varying angles and degrees.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a polyaxialtoothbrush which includes at least one resilient member constructed andarranged to provide a biasing force which provides resistance topivoting of the brush portion with respect to the handle portion betweena straight and bent position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with any accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained hereinconstitute a part of this specification and include exemplaryembodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects andfeatures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A represents a side view of an embodiment of the toothbrushindicating the brush portion, handle portion, universal joint andresilient member;

FIG. 1B represents a side view of the brush portion;

FIG. 1C represents a side view of the handle portion;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the toothbrush;

FIG. 3A is a transverse view of the toothbrush;

FIG. 3B is an embodiment of the first portion of the universal joint.

FIG. 3C is an embodiment of the second portion of the universal joint;

FIG. 4 shows the toothbrush in the bent position; and

FIG. 5 shows the connection between the first and second portions of theuniversal joint defining a polyaxial joint in the bent position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The polyaxial toothbrush 10, shown in FIG. 1A, has four majorcomponents, a brush portion 20, a handle portion 30, a polyaxial, e.g. auniversal joint 40, and a resilient polymeric member 50. As seen in FIG.1B, the brush portion 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22, anouter surface 23 and a first longitudinal centerline 24. The first end21 of the brush portion 20 has a plurality of bristles 25 extendingoutwardly with respect to the outer surface 23. The second end 22includes a portion of a universal joint 40. Although the joint may belocated at any position, in one embodiment, the location is betweenabout 4″ and 4.5″ from the tip of the first end 21 of the brush portion20. In order to provide greater stability when using, the brush portion20 may also have an enlarged, depressed area positioned proximate to thefirst end 21, see FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the handle portion 30 has a first end 31 and asecond end 32, an outer surface 33 and a second longitudinal centerline34. The outer surface 33 defines a grip. The first end 31 includes aportion of the polyaxial joint 40. The polyaxial joint 40 is constructedand arranged to provide cooperation between a first portion of thepolyaxial joint associated with the second end 22 of the brush portion20 and first end 31 of handle portion 30. This arrangement defines apolyaxial joint constructed and arranged to provide the brush portion 20with at least two axes of pivotal movement with respect to the handleportion 30.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, illustrates the polyaxial joint 40 of thepolyaxial toothbrush 10 having a first portion 41 and a second portion42. The first portion 41 includes a substantially spherical cavity 43aligned along the first longitudinal axis 24. In a particularembodiment, the substantially recessed spherical cavity could furtherhave a reverse frustoconical shape. The second portion 42 of theuniversal joint 40 includes a substantially spherical appendage 44extending outwardly from the first end 31 of the handle portion 30 andaligned substantially along said second longitudinal axis 34. In aparticular embodiment, the substantially spherical appendage couldfurther have a frustoconical shape. The substantially sphericalappendage 44 is sized to cooperate with the substantially sphericalcavity 43 to provide universal movement between the brush portion 20 andsaid handle portion 30. Not wanting to limit the invention to a specificembodiment, the first and second ends of the universal joint 40 as shownin the any of the Figures could be reversed so that the substantiallyspherical appendage 44 would be located at the second end 22 of thebrush portion and the substantially spherical cavity 43 would be locatedat the first end 21 of the handle portion 30. The first and secondportions of the universal joint may be molded into the second end 22 ofthe head portion 20 and/or the first end 31 of the handle portion 30.

Although FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C describe a single embodiment of thepolyaxial joint having mostly a spherical appendage sized to cooperatewith a substantially spherical cavity, as used herewith, the polyaxialjoint is not limited to a particular embodiment. The polyaxial joint maybe selected from numerous connections or joints which provide at leasttwo planes or axes of pivotal movement, including a gimbal joint, anelastic coupling and a rag joint. In addition, the polyaxial joint canbe selected from any type of universal joint. Universal joints generallyare joints placed in a rod or shaft that allows for the bending of therod or shaft in any direction. The universal joint generally containshinges located close together and oriented at 90 degrees relative toeach other. Simple universal joints may be composed of two yokes, acenter bearing block and two pins that run through the center bearingblock at right angles to each other, see for example Universal Joint,Curtis Universal Joint Co., Inc, Springfield, Mass. In addition, thepolyaxial joint may be selected from a Cardan Joint, a simple, flexiblecoupling with two yokes and a four point center cross, or the like, anda Hardy-Spicer Joint, both of which are well known in the art. In otherembodiments, the polyaxial joint may be selected from constant-velocity(CV) joints, such as the Tripod (or Triax) or ball-type (such as theRzeppa joint). An additional embodiment for the polyaxial joint mayinclude a Thompson coupling.

The construction of the polyaxial joint provides polyaxial movementwhich allows movement of the brush portion 20 relative to the handleportion 30 allowing the brush portion 20 intermittently-angled movementsalong one axis of motion in either the forward and backward motion. Inaddition, the nature of the connection further allowsintermittently-angled movement along a plurality of axes of pivotalmovement providing a user 360 degree freedom of rotation. With thisconstruction, the user's hand can easily provide the force andstabilization necessary to bend the toothbrush. Rotating and bending thebrush portion 20 relative to the handle portion 30 to varying degreesand angles, see FIG. 4, provides the brush portion contact with hard toreach areas, such as the lateral, medial, and back teeth.

The polyaxial toothbrush of the instant invention further includes atleast one resilient member 50 extending between the second end 22 ofbrush portion 20 and the first end 31 of the handle portion 30. Theresilient member 50 may be constructed and arranged to provideresistance to pivoting of the brush portion 20 with respect to thehandle portion 30. Resilient member 50 may be a sleeve constructed andarranged to engage the outer surfaces 23 and 33 of the brush portion 20and handle portion 30 respectively. Although not limiting the inventionto a particular embodiment, the term resilient member is neverthelessunderstood to include any flexible or elastomeric material which can beconstructed to cover any portion of the toothbrush 101, and as describedin FIG. 5, depending on the direction of bending or rotation, theresilient member 50 can be compressed on one side 51 and extended on theopposite side 52, producing a cushioning effect and a tendency to returnto a state of equilibrium. The resilient member 40 could also beconstructed to cover additional areas of the handle or brush portions.

The polyaxial toothbrush 10 provides the user with the ability to brushan individual's teeth by varying the angle of the brush portion relativeto the handle portion. In a particular method of using the toothbrush tobrush an individual's teeth, the individual applies a cleaning agent,such as toothpaste, to the bristles 25. Using either hand, the threelateral fingers are placed towards the distal ends of the handle portion30 along the outer surface 33 which forms a grip. The index finger andthumb support the proximal portion of the brush 20. In order to form amore stable grasp and properly manipulate the bending of the toothbrush,the thumb engages the enlarged, recessed section 26 of the head portion.While firmly holding the head and handle portions, pressure is appliedto the portions allowing the toothbrush to assume either a straight orintermittently angled position.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification areindicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporatedby reference to the same extent as if each individual publication wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention isillustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangementherein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to whatis shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figuresincluded herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the presentinvention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain theends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. Theembodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein arepresently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended tobe exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changestherein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which areencompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by thescope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been describedin connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should beunderstood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited tosuch specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of thedescribed modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious tothose skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A polyaxial toothbrush comprising: a brush portion, said brushportion having a first end and second end, an outer surface and a firstlongitudinal centerline, said first end of said brush portion having aplurality of bristles extending outwardly with respect to said outersurface, said second end including a first portion of a polyaxial joint;a handle portion, said handle portion having a first end and a secondend, an outer surface and a second longitudinal centerline, said outersurface defining a grip, said first end including a second portion ofsaid polyaxial joint, said second portion of said polyaxial joint beingconstructed and arranged to cooperate with said first portion of saidpolyaxial joint to define a polyaxial joint constructed and arranged toprovide said brush portion with at least two axes of pivotal movementwith respect to said handle portion.
 2. The polyaxial toothbrush ofclaim 1 including at least one resilient member extending between saidsecond end of said brush portion and said first end of said handleportion, said at least one resilient member being constructed andarranged to provide resistance to pivoting said brush portion withrespect to said handle portion.
 3. The polyaxial toothbrush of claim 2wherein said at least one resilient member is a sleeve constructed andarranged to engage said outer surface of said brush portion and saidhandle portion.
 4. The polyaxial toothbrush of claim 1 wherein saidfirst portion of a polyaxial joint includes a substantially sphericalcavity aligned along said first longitudinal axis and said secondportion of a polyaxial joint includes a substantially sphericalappendage extending outwardly from said first end of said handle portionand aligned substantially along said second longitudinal axis, saidspherical appendage sized to cooperate with said spherical cavity toprovide universal movement between said brush portion and said handleportion.
 5. The polyaxial toothbrush of claim 4 including at least oneresilient member extending between said second end of said brush portionand said first end of said handle portion, said at least one resilientmember being constructed and arranged to provide resistance to pivotingsaid brush portion with respect to said handle portion.
 6. The polyaxialtoothbrush of claim 5 wherein said at least one resilient member is asleeve constructed and arranged to engage said outer surface of saidbrush portion and said handle portion.
 7. The polyaxial toothbrush ofclaim 6 wherein said brush portion includes an enlarged, depressed areapositioned above the polyaxial joint and proximal to said first end ofsaid brush portion.